…bound and gagged, with marks of violence
THE bound body of Diamond Housing Scheme taxi driver, Rajendra Puran, 40, called “Rajesh”, was found in a small drain with marks of violence on his face at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, early yesterday morning. His white Toyota Raum, HB 9875, was missing.
Joseph Badal, called “Uncle Joe”, of 71 Logwood, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, told the Guyana Chronicle that he came out of his yard as customary at about 06:15hrs to retrieve the daily newspapers, when he saw the body of a man lying in the small drain in front of his yard.
Badal, 68, upon closer examination, saw that the man’s hands were tied behind his back, his feet were bound and he was gagged. He was bare-footed.
The elderly man raised an alarm and the neighbours summoned the police, who showed up and covered the man’s body with a sheet, after processing the crime scene.
Detectives at the scene told the Guyana Chronicle that the man may have been the victim of a robbery/hijacking. He was probably killed elsewhere and then dumped in the drain.
They added that Puran appeared to have been severely beaten about the face and body.
Badal said that Puran’s own belt was used to tie his hands behind his head, a cloth was used to gag him, and his feet were bound with duct tape. The only thing retrieved from his pockets was his rag.
Other residents said that Wednesday night was rainy, with lightning and thunder, and as such they heard nothing.
They expressed concern that there is no street light in the area and said they are in the process of pooling money to buy and install a light.
Meanwhile, the taxi driver’s grieving wife, Vesta Puran, who was in tears yesterday at her home at 296 Section C, Block Y, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, said that her husband left home for work on Wednesday, around 21:00hrs, after a bath and a meal.
She retired to bed, and about 02:00hrs yesterday, she woke up and realised that he did not return home as usual. She tried to contact him via his cellular phone, but got no answer. After several attempts, she knew something was amiss.
She began telephoning his relatives and friends, hoping they knew of his whereabouts, but no one seem to know where he was. Then a friend telephoned to say that the body of a man was lying in Enmore.
They quickly rushed to the area and their worse fears were confirmed when they identified the body of the taxi driver.
His widow told the Guyana Chronicle that she is puzzled why anyone would so brutally murder her husband, since he did not have enemies or problems with anyone.
Puran’s son, Robin, 12, wept, as he fondly spoke of his father, who took him to and from school every day. They were both looking forward to his success at the Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE), hoping he would secure a place at one of the top secondary schools in the city.
Robin Puran is awaiting results, and is a pupil of Grove Primary School.
His 16-year-old sister was yesterday inconsolable and was unable to speak to the media. She is expected to write the CSEC exams shortly.
Several of Puran’s five brothers and five sisters were also at his residence yesterday, comforting his wife and children.
One of his siblings, Nandkumar Puran, who is the General Manager (ag) of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), told this newspaper that his brother was a really nice person, and they were close.
Mr. Puran said that his brother was a very helpful person and would be missed.
A post mortem is expected to be performed on the body today.
The motor vehicle has not yet been recovered.